Month: March 2016

As many of you know, I have been fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support for the last 18 months and through your generosity this has raised over £4,000.00 to help fund the work that Macmillan do.

In 2015 I completed 5 events for this great charity, cycling more than 1,000km in doing so.

But in 2016 the aim will be to complete 10 events. I have already signed up for a number of these but the final 10 (or more) will be finalised throughout the year. Any suggestions would be welcome …. within reason.

So far the following events will make up my Ten to Tackle;

Start of Summertime – 3 April 2016 (115 km)

Each year Stevenage and North Herts CTC organises a series of events to celebrate the start of summertime. These events usually run on the day that the clocks change, but are sometimes pushed back a week due to other events. There are 3 different routes to choose from depending on your preference of distance. Each year we get a huge turnout of riders who join us and have a great time.

Etape Loch Ness – 24 April 2016 (106 km)

A cycle sportive taking place around iconic Loch Ness offering the chance to cycle 66 miles / 106 km around the loch on traffic free roads. The 360° closed road route around the world famous loch, starting and finishing in the Highland capital of Inverness.

Letchworth to Cambridge Cycle – Sunday 8 May (93km)

Cycling the 58 mile circular route from the first built Garden City in England to the historic town of Cambridge in this 1 day cycle challenge.Fully supported by Challenge Central leaders throughout the event, we will be guided out of Hertfordshire and into Cambridgeshire. A stop for lunch is made to refuel before taking on the final push back to Letchworth.

Dunwich Dynamo XXIV on 16 / 17 July 2016 (200km)

The Dunwich Dynamo is a 200km (120mile) ride from Hackney to Dunwich on the east coast. It is planned for the 16th July 2016, starting from around 8-9pm. Cycling through the night before we arrive in Dunwich sometime the next morning

RideLondon – Surrey 100 – 31 July 2016 – (160km)

Celebrating the legacy for cycling created by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, RideLondon-Surrey 100 starts in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, then follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside. With leg-testing climbs and a route made famous by the world’s best cyclists at the London 2012 Olympics, it’s a truly spectacular event for all involved. RideLondon-Surrey 100 finishes on The Mall in central London, shortly before 150 professional cyclists race in the RideLondon-Surrey Classic on a similar route.

Tour o the Borders – 7th August 2016 (120km)

Starting in the Borders town of Peebles, the ‘Touro’ route will travel mainly over quiet back roads, and climb several stiff hills along the way. Challenging but rewarding, the routes will feature some amazing natural scenery – what better way to take your mind off your efforts than by enjoying this beautiful part of Scotland!

Tour de Broads – Sunday 21 August (120km)

The classic Broads National Park challenge, being swept along riding in a bunch whilst taking in the splendour of this amazing natural landscape.

Tour of the Cornfields – Sunday 4 September (100km)

The Tour of the Cornfields is based in South Cambridgeshire using quiet lanes and by-ways and bridleways. The ride is ideal for cyclo-cross bikes and uses narrow lanes, farm tracks, by-ways and wide off-road paths with over 50% of it off-road. The terrain is flat or gently rolling with just a few short climbs.

I can’t give anything away about this event at present, the planning is underway so more details to follow!

Emitremmus – Sunday 30th October (101 km)So as you can see, keeping things more simple and local this year with only single day events planned.

Emitremmus Desrever is the Stevenage and North Herts CTC’s celebration of the end of summertime and the route is essentially the reverse of the middle-distance Start of summertime route. This event has grown to a point where they now have well over 400 entrants each year.

So as you can see, keeping things more simple and local this year with only single day events planned.

Whether you’ve been affected by cancer, are visiting on behalf of a friend or relative or would just like to find out more about what Macmillan do, you’re welcome to visit the info bus and you don’t need an appointment.

There have been a few changes to the volunteer fundraising groups in Stevenage and North Herts over the last few months but there are, we hope, some exciting times ahead for fundraising in this part of Hertfordshire.

The Stevenage group had been running for years and had raised many thousands over this period mostly through their collections whilst the Letchworth group were only just starting out, raising funds through events. What was the Stevenage & District group and the relatively new Letchworth fundraising group, have now joined forces to become the Stevenage and North Hertfordshire fundraising group.

The aim of the group will be to hold collections and events in order to raise much needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and I am delighted to be appointed as the Chair of this newly formed group. The Committee members from the previous groups will prove a hard act to follow given their sterling service over the years.

But what does Macmillan do for the people of Hertfordshire?

In short, they work alongside the NHS and other health and social care partners to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. In Hertfordshire there are currently over 100 Macmillan health and social care professionals. These include Macmillan nurses and other healthcare professionals at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hemel Hempstead Hospital and Watford General Hospital, along with several local hospices and Community NHS Trust across the County. We can also now benefit from the new £3 million Lister Macmillan Cancer Centre at the Lister Hospital, which opened in 2014 to provide much needed facilities for people in the region, which were sadly lacking previously.

Hertfordshire has a Welfare Benefits Service providing local clinics at hospitals and offering financial help and support across the whole county.

There are also a range of information services across Hertfordshire, with several Information and Support Centres, together with a Mobile Information Unit which will shortly be visiting several locations across the county giving the public quick and easy access to free cancer information and support.

More than one in three of us will get cancer. For most of us it will be the toughest fight we ever face. Now, more than ever, we need people like you to join our team and help us make sure no one faces cancer alone.